Electric control mechanism



Nov. 13 1923. 7 1,474,312

c}. w. WYMAN ELECTRIC CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 5, 1919 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 13 1923. 1,474,312

. c. w. WYMAN ELECTRIC CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 5, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

- UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. WYMAN, OF CLAREMON'I, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOB TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION F MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC CONTROL MECHANISM.

Application filed September To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. WYMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at (llaremon't, in' the. county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Electric Control Mechanism, of which the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to electric control mechanism.

It has for its object to provide an improved electric control mechanism. -A further object of my invention is to provide a controller of improved and s'mplified construction operatively connected to themotor in an improved manner and effective to minimize sparking at the controller contacts, my present invention constituting an improvement over that described and cla'med in my 00- ending application Serial No. 300,455, filed ay 28, 1919. ,These and other objects of my invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration two forms 7 which my improvement may assume in practice.

In these drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a controller con- I structed in accordance with-one form of my invention, the cdntroller arm being shown 1n a plurality of positions.

Fig. 2 IS a transverse sectional vlewon line 2--2 of Fig. 1,-the controlling arm beingin the position indicatedin dotted lines in that figure and parts between being omitted for clearness.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.-

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the controller and its wiring connections.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified construction of the controller member.

Fig. 6 is 'a side elevation of this construction.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same showing the parts in diiferentpositions.

*In the first illustrative construction, it will be observed that I have shown in Fig. 1 a

- controller of the general type described and claimed in my above mentioned application, the same including a panel 1 having a controller arm 2 carrying improved contacts hereinafter described, the arm being pivoted 5, 1919. vSerial No. 321,953.

therefrom at a point between its ends, which contacts 6 are adapted to engage frictionally and slidv an arcuate sector 7 longitudinally in a suitable arcuate frame 8. i As shown in that application, whenever the movement of the controller arm is reversed, through the provision of a slot 9 in the sector, the latter also a! tuates a bell crank switch member 10 pivoted at 11 on the panel to breakcircuit connections with a contact stud 12, likewise carried on the panel. It will also be noted that, as in my previous construction, I have herein provided an operative connection in the form of a member .13, engageable with a lug or projection 14 movable with the controller arm 2, and pivoted at 15 to the bell crank member 10, adapted to move said member 10 into re-engagement with the contact 12 after the arm 2 is reversed and as it approaches its off position. I

In the,illustr ative construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4, it will be observed that contacts 1-7 and 18 are carried by the controller arm.2. Of these members, themember 17 is preferably a block of conducting material, such as brass, vertically movable in suitable guides 19 carried on the under side of the arm 2 and normally projected into engagement with the contact surfaces 4, 5 by aspring, herein a coiled spring 20 housed in the arm 2. The contact 18, on the other hand, is also preferably formed of a conducting material, such as brass or carbon, and disposed in a guide frame 21' of substantially the same size as the guide frame 19 and acted upon by a spring 22' similar to the spring 20. This member 18, however, is as shown preferably of materially less width than the member 17 and adapted to have a lateral movement between the walls of its guide frame 21 in such a manner as to provide a lost motion connection between the same and the controller arm when the movement of the latter is reversed. Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, it will be noted that as a result of this construction, when the arm is moved from the full line position shown in Fig. 1 toward on position, the contact 18 will occupy the position shown in Fig. 2, and that when the movement of the arm is reversed, the contact 18 will pivot about the contact 5, which the same then engages, and after a certain amount of lost motion, i. e., until the arm 2 has moved sufiiciently to bring the contact 18 into the position shown in Fig. 3, then bemoved bodily toward off position with the arm 2.

In my improved construction, this contact mechanism also cooperates in an improved manner with'the controller mechanism in the control of the motor. Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, it will be noted that my improved controller is there shown adapted to control a resistance 23 in the armature circuit of the motor in the general manner described and claimed in my co-pending application mentioned, the control being effected through the cooperation of an elec-' tro-responsive switch or contactor 24 brid ingcontacts 25 in one side of the line 26, 2 and itselfenergized by a conductor 28 connected between the contact 12 and the line conductor 26. Herein, it will also be noted that a compound wound motor is illustrated including an armature 29 having the flow therethrough controlled by a reverse switch 30 and having a series field 31 and a shunt field 32, the latter being in turn connected in shunt with a resistance 33, as shown, when the motor is used on high voltage lines. When connected as shown, it will be observed that my controller mechanism will function generally in the manner described and claimed in my above mentioned application, to establish current flow through the electro-responsive switch 24 as soon as the contacts 6 engage the sector 7, and thereby to establish current flow through the motor when the contacts 17, 18 on the arm engage the first live contact 5, the gripping contacts- 6 actuating the sector 7 and the bell crank switch member 10 to break the circuit of the electro-responsive switch at the contact 12 whenever the arm 2 is reversed and, through the action of the member 13, again closing the switch 10 after the arm 2 has moved off of the last live contact 5 and as it approaches off position. In my improved construction, moreover, it will be observed that through the provision of the lost motion connection, means are provided whereby whenever the arm 2 is moved in reverse direction, ample time is provided for the same-to operate the switch member 10 and, by breaking the circuit through the coil of the electroresponsive switch 24, cause the latter to be deenergized before the contact 18 moves off of the contact 5 with which it is then in engagement, thus preventing arcin at the contact 5 in question. It will also e observed that through improved circuit connections including a connection 34 between the shunt field and the line conductor 27, as soon as the current supply to the armature is interrupted by the opening of the electro-responsive switch 24, the motor acts as a generator, current of high voltage and low amperage then flowing through the armature 29, the reverse switch 30, the resistance 23, the controller arm 2, the line conductor 27, the conductor 34,.the shunt field 32, and the reverse switch 30, back to the armature. It will be noted that as the arm 2 moves back over the live contacts 5 and off of the last live contact, in the movement of the arm toward off position, the arcing at the last contact 5 will be very small as the shunt field circuit, which is of high resistance, only will be opened when the arm moves the contact 18 off of the last live contact 5. In other words, it will be observed that through the operation of my improved mechanism when connected in the improved manner set forth, the flow of current from the line to the motor is interrupted as soon as and whenever the controller arm 2 is moved toward oft position, while the shunt field circuit is maintained until the contact 18 moves oil' of the last live contact 5, thereby causing a minimum of sparking.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, I have illustrated a modified form of mechanism which may be utilized to obtain the lost motion connection hereinabove described. In this construction it will be observed that a supplementary arm 35 is pivoted co-axially with the arm 2 and provided with a plurality of contacts 36 on its outer end, which are adapted to take the place of the contacts 17, 18. In this construction, it will be observed, however, that no lost motion is provided between one of these contacts 36 and the member 35, the same instead moving bodily with that member in the usual manner, the lost motion herein being provided by lugs 37 formed on the opposite sides of the member 2, and pins 38 carried by said lugs and adapted to engage the sides of the member 35 after a predetermined movement of the member 2 in either direction. In the use of such a construction, it will of course be evident that. the operation of the controller and the control of the system obtained thereby will be substantially the same as that above described, the only difi'erence being that instead of having the movable contacts carried directly by the arm 2 and having a lost motion connection between-the same and said arm, the contacts are carried herein by a supplemental arm having a lost motion connection between the same and the con troller arm.

While I have in this application specifi 'successively engaged thereby, and means forming a lost motion connection between said member and said first-mentioned contact.

2. In an electric controller, a movable controller member, a contact movable therewith, cooperating contacts adapted to be serially engaged thereby, and means forming a lost motion connection between said member and said first-mentioned contact.

3. In. an electric controller, a movable controller arm, a contact movable therewith, cooperating contacts adapted to be serially engaged thereby, and means for producing a delayed movement of said first-mentioned contact upon a movement of said arm in one direction.

4. In an electric controller, a, movable controller arm, a contact carried thereby, cooperating contacts engaged thereby, and means for producing a delayed movement of said first-mentioned contact upon a reverse movement of said arm.

5. In an electric controller, a movable controller arm, a contact movable therewith,

cooperating contacts engaged thereby, and

means for producing a delayed movement of said first-mentioned contact in either direc:

tion after an initial movement of said arm.

6. In an electric controller, resistance controlling mechanism including stationary and movable contacts and a movable controller arm, with which said. movable contacts are movable, and means for moving said movable contact with said arm to ward elf position only after a predetermined movement of the latter toward ofi? position.

7. In an electric controlling mechanism, a movable controller member, a cooperating switch mechanism actuated by movement of'said member, a contactmovable with said member, cooperating stationary contacts, and means forming a lost motion connection between said first-mentioned contact and said member.

8. In an electric controller mechanism, resistance controlling mechanism includin cooperating contacts and a movable contro ler member, supplemental switch. mechanism mechanically actuated upon movementof said member, and means for actuating said switch mechanism and said first-mentioned contact in timed relation upon movement of said member including a lost motion connection between one of said first mentioned contacts and said member.

9. In an electric controlling mechanism, resistance controlling mechanism including a plurality of cooperating contacts, a supplemental switch mechanism actuated thereby, and means for inhibiting separation of any pair of said contacts until after the actuation of said "switch mechanism.

10. In an electric control system, motor controlling mechanism including a resistance and a manually movable contact movable thereover, a line switch, and means for 'insurin O)6l1ll1 of said line switch rior to a movement of said contact over said resistance, including means for increasing the effective length, in the direction of move ment thereof, of said contact.

11. In an electric control system, motor controlling mechanism. including a resistance and a manually movable contact movable thcreover, an electro-responsive line switch, and means for insuring the opening of said line switch prior to a reverse movement of said contact including means for varying the effective length of said contact in the direction of motion thereof.

12. In an electric controller, a movable controller member, a contact movable therewith, cooperating contacts engaged thereby, and means whereby upon reversal of the direction of movement of said controller member a predetermined interval will intervene prior to movement of said movable contact.

13. In an electric controller, a movable controller member of conducting material, a contact movable therewith and electrically connected thereto, a cooperating contact engaged thereby, and means forming a lost motion connection between said mem- I her and said first mentioned contact.

14:. In an electric controller mechanism,

resistance controlling mechanism including a contact means connected to a resistance at a plurality of points, contactmeans co-' operating with said first mentioned contact means an arm operative to efl'ect relative movement between said contact means, a circuit controlling switch, a pilot switch controlling the same, and means carried by said arm for engaging and moving an element of said pilot switch in opposite directions, there being means for delaying reverse relative movement of said contact means until said1 pilot switch element is reversely operat l 15. In an electric controller, a movable controller member having contact supporting means, a contact carried by. said means and movable with said member, cooperating contacts adapted to be successively engaged thereby, and means forming a lost motion connection between sald member and. said first mentioned contact.

16. In an electric controller, a movable controller member, a contact movable therewith, cooperating contacts adapted to be serially engaged thereby, yieldable means for pressing said movable contact into ongagement with said cooperating cont-acts, and mean forming a lost motion connection between said member and said first mentioned contact.

17. In an electric controller, a movable controller arm, a contact support, a contact movable therewith and relative thereto, cooperating contacts adapted to be serially engaged thereby, and means for producing a delayed movement of said first mentioned contact upon a movement of said arm in one direction.

18. In an electric controller, a movable controller arm, a contact carried thereby, cooperating contacts engaged thereby, and means for producing a delayed movement of said first mentioned contact in either direction after an initial movement of the arm.

19. In an electric controller, resistance controlling mechanism including stationary and movable contacts and a movable controller arm with which said movable bontaots are movable, and means for moving said movable contact with said arm toward ofi position at the same rate of movement as said arm has only after a predetermined movement of the latter toward off position and to impart a component of said latter movement to, said movable contact during said predetermined period,

20. In an electric controlling mechanism, a movablecontroller member, a cooperating switch mechanism actuated by movement of said member and having a stationmy contact, a contact movable with said member, cooperating stationary contacts,

and means forming a lost motion connection between said first mentioned contact and said member.

21. In an electric controller mechanism, resistance controlling mechanism including cooperating contacts and a movable controller member, supplemental switch mechanism mechanically actuated upon movement of said member and adapted to be relatively movable to said member while said switch is closed, and means for actuating-said switch mechanism and said first mentioned contact in timed relation upon movement of said member including a lost motion connection between one of said first mentioned contacts and said member.

22. In an electric controlling mechanism, resistance controlling mechanism including a plurality of cooperating contacts, a supplemental switch mechanism actuated thereby, and means for inhibiting separation of any pair of said contacts until after the actuation of said switch mechanism, certain of said contacts being relatively movable.

23. In an electric controller, a movable controller'member, a contact support cari CHARLES W. WYMAN. 

